Booze before snooze? Bill would let Colorado bars stay open until 7 a.m.

Piña coladas shine in the sun as Rachel Artz, a bartender at Rio Grande, pours out a few go-cups for two customers during the summer in the 9th Street Plaza in downtown Greeley. A bill proposed in the Colorado Legislature would allow bars to stay open until 7 a.m.

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Bars in Colorado could serve alcohol until 7 a.m. if a bill working its way through the state Legislature finds its way to the governor’s desk.

State Rep. Crisanta Duran, D-Denver, is sponsoring the bill that would give cities the option of setting the operating hours for bars in city limits. Liquor stores, however, would still have to close at midnight.

Duran told The Denver Post the bill is intended to keep patrons from all leaving bars at the same time, which has led to fights and even shootings in the past.

“When you mix alcohol and large crowds exiting at the exact same time, that’s when problems occur,” said Duran. “We’re giving cities the option to allow bars to stay open longer and serve if they want.”

Kyle Carbaugh, owner of Wiley Roots Brewing, 625 3rd St. in Greeley, said his company wouldn’t likely take advantage of the extended hours, even if Greeley officials gave the OK.

“For us, while I’d love to offer our beer to our customers all day long and into the morning, that wouldn’t enable us to make the best beer we can,” Carbaugh said. “But if there’s a demand for it, I think we should probably allow businesses to make that decision for themselves. Let them decide what’s in the best interest of their business.”

That sentiment was echoed by Logan Fairweather, a bartender at Patrick’s Irish Pub, 907 8th Ave. in Greeley. He said the added hours might even help bartenders.

“It’d be nice for those nights when we’re packed,” Fairweather said. “That way we could decide to stay open for a few extra hours or something.”

Fairweather said it’s possible the bill would help alleviate the crowds after last call.

“Bars would probably set different closing times, so people could just head to a different bar after the one they’re at closed,” he said.

Greeley Police Chief Jerry Garner, however, said he sees little value in the proposed changes.

“I think that bill was proposed to address a very specific problem, which is the bar scene in LoDo,” Garner said. “We don’t face a similar situation in Greeley, and I don’t believe many places in Colorado do.”

If the bill passes and Greeley were to allow bars to stay open until 7 a.m., Garner said he believes more problems would be created than solved.

“My common sense and 44 years in law enforcement tell me you’re just giving people that much longer to get that much drunker,” he said. “I’d be hard-pressed to see the value in extending bar hours until 7 a.m.”

According to The Denver Post, the way the measure is written, local jurisdictions would have the authority to reset hours alcohol can be sold by bars and restaurants — which could mean some cities might prohibit bars from selling alcohol at certain times, even well before the 2 a.m. law currently in place.

Garner said he thinks the city should keep the current hours if the bill were to pass.

“What we’re doing right now seems to be working well,” he said. “I would not be one to say we should change the hours at all. What we’re doing now seems to be working for alcohol retailers, customers and law enforcement.”

As for cracking a beer at the crack of dawn, Carbaugh said he’ll pass.

“Personally, I don’t see myself doing it,” he said. “But I know a lot of people work nights or odd hours. It might be convenient for them.”